The Correct Attachment of Belt Buckles and Fittings
We sell many belts, each with their own designs and details. But it is also possible to purchase a leather belt and belt fitting separately and create your own design.
You can choose the buckle, the end, and the fittings of your preference and attach them to the bare belt.
Depending on the type of belt buckles and fittings, the method of attachment to the belt is different.
Pin and Ring Buckle
A belt buckle with a pin and ring closure is attached to the end of a belt without looping the belt through it. The buckle usually has 3 pins on the inside that go through the leather belt.
What do you need?
-Leather belt
-Awl or pliers
-Belt buckle (with the corresponding rings)
-Pen or marker
-Utility knife
-Glue
How to attach a pin and ring buckle:
Step 1:
Make a notch at one end of the leather belt ensuring it is centered on the belt. It doesn't need to be deep, about 3 mm should suffice. This notch ensures the buckle tongue can move freely once the buckle is attached.
Step 2:
Place the buckle on the leather to check where the pins of the buckle sit on the belt. Mark these points with a pen.
Step 3:
Use the awl or pliers to make holes through the belt where you marked the placement of the pins
Step 4:
Place the buckle back on the belt, with the pins in the holes. Turn the belt over.
Step 5:
Drop a small amount of glue into each hole, onto the end of the pins, and press the rings into the hole. Press them firmly.
Step 6:
Measure where you want the belt holes to be. You can do this manually or use another well-fitting belt as a template. Ensure there is at least 1.25 cm between each hole. Mark the location of the hole with a pen or marker.
Step 7:
Use the pliers or awl to make the holes at the marked spots.
If you want to further decorate your belt with a belt end and/or belt fitting, this works in a similar way. Measure and mark where you want the decorative hardware to be (for a belt end, mark where the pins of the belt end go). Use the pliers or awl to make the holes in the belt. Push the hardware pin into the hole, turn the belt over, and put a drop of glue in the hole. Push the end cap into the hole and wait for the glue to dry.
Standard buckle
A standard belt buckle is attached to the belt by passing the belt through the buckle and folding it around the buckle.
What do you need?
-Leather belt
-Awl or pliers
-Utility knife
-Buckle
-Pen or marker
-Rivets
-Glue
How to attach a standard belt buckle:
Step 1:
Mark where the buckle tongue and rivets need to go through the leather.
The belt does not need to overlap too much, just enough so that the holes for the rivet do not come exactly on the edge of the belt or too close to where the slot for the tongue should come. Generally, an overlap of 3 to 4 cm should be sufficient.
The slot for the belt tongue should go over the curvature of the folded belt. The holes for the rivet should each be placed at the same distance from the slot, one on each side.
Step 2:
Use a leather awl or pliers to make the holes in the leather. To create the slot for the belt tongue, you can overlap the awl or pliers for an oval-shaped hole, or you can cut it with a utility knife.
Step 3:
Insert the end of the belt through the buckle and push the tongue of the buckle through the slot in the belt. Fold the end of the belt around the buckle, under itself. Ensure that the holes on each side of the slit are aligned.
Step 4:
Push the open halves of the rivets into the holes at the top of the belt. Turn the belt over and drop some glue into the holes. Push the other end of the rivet into the hole and let the glue dry.
Click here for our collection of buckles and belt fitting
